Hills of Glory 3D offers some pretty nice ideas, which makes it all the more frustrating that it doesn't always hit the spot.

It's a World War 2 based Tower Defense game that offers no towers or lanes to speak of. Instead, things are more free-flowing with players having to tackle waves of enemies that can come from various directions. A selection of weaponry is gradually unlocked through the completion of levels, with each requiring a different form of gesture to initiate the attack.

For instance, simply shooting an enemy usually requires multiple taps to take them out. Elsewhere, there are flame throwers and machine guns that each require one to drag two fingers along before releasing to move the reticules around. Most impressively are napalm strikes, requiring a sweeping motion with a couple of fingers in order to unleash the fire. Then there are mortars, which are fairly simply unleashed by holding a finger down, but have to be timed correctly in order to be effective.

It's a tactile and initially more appealing way of dealing with enemy attacks than simply placing a tower or two down, but it's not entirely effective. Each gesture is often quite similar to another one, making it all too easy to perform the wrong kind of attack. It's those kind of annoyances that detract from what could have been quite a fun idea. While early on such inconsistencies aren't such a big deal, things quickly become much harder and no one likes to lose out because of temperamental game controls.

Alongside that are plenty of freemium elements, ranging from many ways to acquire more gold and weaponry, through purchases, as well as some more insidious elements. One such annoyance stems from having to wait for the player's bunker to fully regenerate through an energy bar system, otherwise one is immediately at a disadvantage for a new level. It feels like a slightly cynical way of enticing one into spending money to progress.

There are a few neat ideas under the surface for Hills of Glory 3D, but it's all too cluttered and fiddly in the end. It'll be entertaining at first but don't expect it to have staying power.

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